Display Device with Touch panel and Fabricating Method thereof

ABSTRACT

A display device with touch panel and a fabricating method thereof are provided. The display device with touch panel includes a flexible display panel and a force sensitive touch panel. The force sensitive touch panel is disposed under a portion of the flexible display panel. Since the force sensitive touch panel is only configured under the portion of the flexible display panel, the display device with touch panel may have touching control function and flexibility at the same time.

This application claims priority to a Taiwan application No. 097150504filed Dec. 24, 2008.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention is related to a display device and fabricating methodthereof, and more particular to a flexible display device with touchpanel and fabricating method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

Since the back light module is replaced by the external light source fordisplaying in reflective display devices, the consumed energy may bereduced and the reflective display devices are suitable for being usedin the portable electronic products. Thus, a touch panel is used in thedisplay device of most portable electronic products for conveniencenowadays.

The touch panels widely used within the display devices compriseresistive touch panels, capacitance touch panels and force sensitivetouch panels. The resistive touch panel or the capacitance touch panelis disposed on the display surface of the display panel. For thereflective display device, the external light is transmitted into thedisplay panel via the resistive touch panel or the capacitance touchpanel and the light reflected by the display panel is also transmittedout of the the display panel via the resistive touch panel or thecapacitance touch pane.

However, the transmittance of the resistive touch panel or thecapacitance touch panel is only between 80% and 92%, so the brightnessof the reflective display device is difficult to promote. Therefore,piezoelectric touch panel disposed under the display panel is used inmost of the conventional reflective display devices to prevent the lightreflected by the display panel from passing the piezoelectric touchpanel, so the light energy loss may be decreased and the displayingbrightness of the reflective display devices may also be increased.Nevertheless, since a rigid substrate is used as a carrier for thepiezoelectric sensors of the piezoelectric touch panel, the conventionalreflective display device with piezoelectric touch panel is unflexibleand it is not consistent with the trend of miniaturization and theconvenience of carrying of the modern display devices.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Accordingly, the invention is directed to a display device with touchpanel having flexibility without sacrificing brightness.

The invention is directed to a method of fabricating a display devicewith touch panel for producing a flexible display device with touchpanel without reducing the brightness thereof.

The invention provides a display device with touch panel comprising aflexible display panel and a force sensitive touch panel, wherein theforce sensitive touch panel is disposed under a portion of the flexibledisplay panel.

The invention provides a method of fabricating a display device withtouch panel. First, a flexible display panel is provided. Next, a forcesensitive touch panel is formed under a portion of the flexible displaypanel.

Since the force sensitive touch panel is disposed under a portion of theflexible display panel, the other portions of the flexible display panelwithout bonding with the force sensitive touch panel may be bent.Therefore, the display device with touch panel is flexible in theinvention.

In order to make the aforementioned and other objects, features andadvantages of the invention more comprehensible, some preferredembodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a display devicewith touch panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a schematic upward view illustrating a display device withtouch panel according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a schematic upward view illustrating a display device withtouch panel according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2C is a schematic upward view illustrating a display device withtouch panel according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2D is a schematic upward view illustrating a display device withtouch panel according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic upward view illustrating a display device withtouch panel according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic upward view illustrating a display device withtouch panel according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the display device with touchpanel of FIG. 1 during a bending state.

FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D are schematic cross-section views illustrating thedisplay device with touch during partial fabricating process accordingto an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-section view illustrating the adhesion layeris adhered with a portion of the flexible display panel according toanother embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C are schematic cross-section views illustrating thedisplay device with touch panel during partial fabricating processaccording to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a display devicewith touch panel according to an embodiment of the invention. Referringto FIG. 1, the display device with touch panel 10 comprises a flexibledisplay panel 12 and a force sensitive touch panel 14 disposed under aportion of the flexible display panel 12.

The flexible display panel 12 is a reflective flexible display panel,such as an electro-phoretic display panel, a cholesteric liquid crystaldisplay panel, an organic electroluminescence display panel, a MEMSdisplay panel or an electro-wetting display panel. The flexible displaypanel 12 has a upper surface 122 and a bottom surface 124 opposite toeach other. The upper surface 122 is a display surface of the flexibledisplay panel 12.

The force sensitive touch panel 14 comprises a first substrate 142, asecond substrate 144 and a plurality of piezoelectric sensors 146. Thefirst substrate 142 is disposed above the second substrate 144 and nearthe bottom surface 124 of the flexible display panel 12. Thepiezoelectric sensors 146 are disposed between the first substrate 142and the second substrate 144. In specific, the materials of the firstsubstrate 142 and the second substrate 144 may be polycarbonate(so-called PC), polyethersulfone (so-called PES), polymethylmethacrylate (so-called PMMA), novolac plastic, glass or stainlesssteel. In addition, the piezoelectric sensor 146 may comprise forcesensitive resistors.

Specially, the force sensitive touch panel 14 in this embodiment furthercomprises a plurality of supporting pillars 148 disposed against andbetween the flexible display panel 12 and the second substrate 144. Thesupporting pillars 148 is used for keeping the distance between theflexible display panel 12 and the force sensitive touch panel 14 toavoid the inappropriate action of the piezoelectric sensor 146 resultedfrom the gravity of the flexible display panel 12 before the forcesensitive touch panel 14 being pressed.

It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the relativehorizontal positions and the ratio of the area of the force sensitivetouch panel 14 and the flexible display panel 12. As shown in FIG. 2A toFIG. 2D, the area of the force sensitive touch panel 14 may be aboutequal or less than a half of the area of the flexible display panel 12and corresponding any part of the flexible display panel 12.Alternatively, the area of the force sensitive touch panel 14 may belarger than a half of the area of the flexible display panel 12. Thearea of the force sensitive touch panel 14 is not limited in theinvention.

In addition, a quadrangle force sensitive touch panel 14 is taken as theexample in the embodiment, but it is not only limited to the shape ofthe force sensitive touch panel 14. The shape of the force sensitivetouch panel 14 may also be a circular or polygon shape, as shown in FIG.3 and FIG. 4.

In the display device with touch panel 10, since the force sensitivetouch panel 14 is under the flexible display panel 12, the light istransmitted into or out of the flexible panel 12 without passing throughthe force sensitive touch panel 14. Therefore, the energy loss of thelight passing through the force sensitive touch panel 14 may beprevented. Thus, the displaying brightness of the display device withtouch panel 10 is improved.

Accordingly, since the force sensitive touch panel 14 is disposed onlyon a portion of the flexible display panel 12, even the force sensitivetouch panel 14 consists of a rigid substrate, the other portions of theflexible display panel 12 without bonding with the force sensitive touchpanel 14 is also flexible, as shown in FIG. 5. Therefore, the displaydevice with touch panel 10 is consistent with the trend of theminiaturization of the portal electronic produces.

The fabricating method of the display device with touch panel of theinvention is described in following paragraphs. FIG. 6A to FIG. 6D areschematic cross-section views illustrating the display device with touchpanel during fabricating process according to an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 6A first, the flexible panel 12 having theupper surface 112 and the bottom surface 124 opposite to each other isprovided. Then, a force sensitive touch panel 14 is formed under aportion of the flexible display panel 12. In detail, the method offorming the force sensitive touch panel 14 under a portion of theflexible display panel 12 of this embodiment comprises forming anadhesion layer 13 on a first substrate 142, as shown in FIG. 6B. Next,the first substrate 142 is adhered under a portion of the flexibledisplay panel 12 by the adhesion layer 13, as shown in FIG. 6C.

Referring FIG. 6D, a plurality of piezoelectric sensors 146 are disposedon the second substrate 144. The piezoelectric sensors 146 may compriseforce sensitive resistors. Specifically, a plurality of supportingpillars 148 are disposed on the second substrate 144 to keep thedistance between the flexible display panel 12 and the force sensitivetouch panel 14 in this embodiment. Finally, the second substrate 144with the piezoelectric sensors 146 and the first substrate 142 areassembled to each other for forming the force sensitive touch panel 14.The supporting pillars 148 are disposed against and between the flexibledisplay panel 12 and the second substrate 144 of the force sensitivetouch panel 14. The flexible display panel 12 and the force sensitivetouch panel 14 are assembled to form the display device with touch panel10 as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C, in another embodiment of theinvention, the method of forming the force sensitive touch panel 14comprises adhering a substrate 1420 under the flexible display panel 12first, as shown in FIG. 8A. Next, a portion of the substrate 1420 isremoved to form the first substrate 142 under the flexible display panel12. In this embodiment, a portion of the substrate 1420 is removed bylaser cutting method. In detail, the process of removing the portion ofthe substrate 1420 comprises cutting the substrate 1420 to a firstpartial substrate 1422 and a second partial substrate 1424 first, asshown in FIG. 8B. Next, the first partial substrate 1422 under removingis illuminated by a laser beam and then departed from the flexibledisplay panel 12, as shown in FIG. 8C. Then, the first partial substrate1422 departed from the flexible display panel 12 is removed and thesecond partial substrate 1424 adhered with the flexible display panel 12is considered the first substrate 142. The follow-up fabricating processof the force sensitive touch panel 14 is described as the aforementionedembodiment and shown in FIG. 6D, it is unnecessary to say herein.

In summary, since the force sensitive touch panel is disposed under theflexible display panel in the invention, the light is transmitted intoor out of the flexible display panel without passing through the forcesensitive touch panel. Therefore, the energy loss of the light passingthrough the force sensitive touch panel may be prevented. Thus, thedisplaying brightness of the display device with touch panel isimproved.

Moreover, since the force sensitive touch panel is disposed under aportion of the flexible display panel, the other portions of theflexible display panel without bonding with the force sensitive touchpanel is also flexible. Therefore, the display device with touch panelis consistent with the trend of the miniaturization of the portalelectronic produces.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein, including configurations ways of the recessed portionsand materials and/or designs of the attaching structures. Further, thevarious features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone,or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to belimited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope ofthe claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

1. A display device with touch panel, comprising: a flexible displaypanel, and a force sensitive touch panel disposed under a portion of theflexible display panel.
 2. The display device with touch panel asrecited in claim 1, wherein the flexible display panel is a reflectiveflexible display panel.
 3. The display device with touch panel asrecited in claim 1, wherein the flexible display panel is anelectro-phoretic display panel, a cholesteric liquid crystal displaypanel, an organic electroluminescence display panel, a MEMS displaypanel or an electro-wetting display panel.
 4. The display device withtouch panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the shape of the forcesensitive touch panel is circle or polygon.
 5. The display device withtouch panel as recited in claim 1, wherein the force sensitive touchpanel comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed underthe first substrate; and a plurality of piezoelectric sensors disposedbetween the first substrate and the second substrate.
 6. The displaydevice with touch panel as recited in claim 5, wherein the materials ofthe first substrate and the second substrate are polycarbonate,polyethersulfone, polymethyl methacrylate, novolac plastic, glass orstainless steel.
 7. The display device with touch panel as recited inclaim 5, further comprising a plurality of supporting pillars disposedagainst and between the flexible display panel and the second substrate.8. The display device with touch panel as recited in claim 5, whereinthe piezoelectric sensors comprises force sensitive resistors.
 9. Afabricating method of a display device with touch panel comprising thesteps of: providing a flexible display panel; and forming a forcesensitive touch panel under a portion of the flexible display panel. 10.The fabricating method of a display device with touch panel as recitedin claim 9, wherein the method of forming the force sensitive touchpanel under the portion of the flexible display panel comprising thesteps of: providing a first substrate; forming an adhesion layer on thefirst substrate; adhering the first substrate under the portion of theflexible display panel by the adhesion layer; disposing a plurality ofpiezoelectric sensors on the second substrate; and assembling the secondsubstrate with the piezoelectric sensors to the first substrate.
 11. Thefabricating method of a display device with touch panel as recited inclaim 10, further comprising the step of forming a plurality ofsupporting pillars on the second substrate before assembling the secondsubstrate to the first substrate, wherein the supporting pillars aredisposed against and between the second substrate and the flexibledisplay panel after the second substrate is assembled to the firstsubstrate.
 12. The fabricating method of a display device with touchpanel as recited in claim 9, wherein the method of forming the forcesensitive touch panel under the portion of the flexible display panelcomprising the steps of: providing a first substrate; forming anadhesion layer under the portion of the flexible display panel; adheringthe first substrate under the portion of the flexible display panel bythe adhesion layer; disposing a plurality of piezoelectric sensors onthe second substrate; and assembling the second substrate with thepiezoelectric sensors to the first substrate.
 13. The fabricating methodof a display device with touch panel as recited in claim 12, furthercomprising the step of forming a plurality of supporting pillars on thesecond substrate before assembling the second substrate to the firstsubstrate, wherein the supporting pillars are disposed against andbetween the second substrate and the flexible display panel after thesecond substrate is assembled to the first substrate.
 14. Thefabricating method of a display device with touch panel as recited inclaim 9, wherein the method of forming the force sensitive touch panelunder the portion of the flexible display panel comprising the steps of:adhering a substrate under the flexible display panel; removing aportion of the substrate for forming a first substrate under theflexible display panel; disposing a plurality of piezoelectric sensorson a second substrate; and assembling the second substrate with thepiezoelectric sensors to the first substrate.
 15. The fabricating methodof a display device with touch panel as recited in claim 14, wherein themethod of removing the portion of the substrate comprising the steps of:cutting the substrate; illuminating the portion of the substrate underremoving by a laser beam; and removing the portion of the substrateilluminated by the laser beam.
 16. The fabricating method of a displaydevice with touch panel as recited in claim 14, further comprising thestep of forming a plurality of supporting pillars on the secondsubstrate before assembling the second substrate to the first substrate,wherein the supporting pillars are disposed against and between thesecond substrate and the flexible display panel after the secondsubstrate is assembled to the first substrate.